Curry to face LeBron in Western Conference semis

Stephen Curry (Noah Salzman, Wikimedia Commons)

The second round of the NBA Playoffs is now underway, and the fourth and final matchup is as juicy as it gets. When the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Golden State Warriors, we will just not see two California-based clubs, but two organizations who feature two of the finest players to have played over the last 20 years–LeBron and Steph. The dream matchup was guaranteed when Curry scored 50 points en route to a 120-100 game seven Warriors win over the Kings in the seventh game of the Western Conference quarterfinals on Sunday. The 50 points were the most points a player has ever scored in a game seven in the NBA Playoffs.

Let’s take a look at the four prior playoff series that James has faced Curry. This is excluding the play-in game between the Lakers and Warriors in 2021, which the Lakers won 103-100. Last time I checked, that was not officially part of the NBA Playoffs.

2015 NBA Finals

This was the first time that James and Curry faced each other in the playoffs. Curry and the Warriors came through with a win in six games over LeBron and the Cleveland Cavaliers. In game five, Curry and James combined for 77 points. Even though James had the slight 40-37 edge. the Warriors won 104-91 to take a 3-2 series lead.

2016 NBA Finals

In the only time the Cavaliers have ever won the NBA Finals, LeBron was named NBA Finals MVP as Cleveland beat Golden State four games to three. James averaged a double-double in the seven games as he had 29.7 points per game and 11.3 rebounds per game. Cleveland was actually down three games to one to the Warriors before winning the next three contests. In games five and six, James had 41 points in each matchup.

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2017 NBA Finals

In the 2017 NBA Finals, the Warriors and Curry beat the Cavaliers and James in a swift five games. Curry led the series with 9.4 assists per game and 2.2 steals per game. In game two, a 132-113 Warriors win, Curry and James each had a triple double. Curry had 32 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds. James had 29 points, 14 assists, and 11 rebounds.

2018 NBA Finals

The 2018 NBA Finals were swifter than the year before as Curry and the Warriors swept James and the Cavaliers in four games. Despite not being named NBA Finals MVP, Curry did lead the Warriors in scoring in three of the games. He had 29 points in a 124-114 Golden State overtime win in game one, 33 points in a 122-103 Golden State game two win, and 37 points in a 108-85 Golden State game four win.

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